39 
THE MINISTRIES OF HIGHER AND SPECIALIZED 
SECONDARY EDUCATION 
Criteria for Selection and Training of 
Professional Scientific Workers 
A recently published comprehensive study on Soviet educationwas spon- 
sored by the National Science Foundation.(28) It should be read in connection 
with the subsequent joint resolution of the Party and the U.S.S.R. Council of 
Ministers, "On Measures for Further Improving the Selection and Training 
of Scientific Personnel'',. The background and administrative provisions of 
this resolution are summarized below.(/6) 
Although the total number of scientific workers in 1961 indicated a 
measure of success in Soviet education, the tempo of such training was 
inadequate. The Party and State have noted the following inadequacies: 
1. Young scientists are slow to be promoted to independent work 
and to responsible scientific-organizational posts. 
2. Persons who have not made a favorable showing in scientific 
work are not always soon replaced by more capable personnel. 
3. Some dissertation themes have no essential scientific or 
practical significance, and scientific councils of higher edu- 
cational institutions and research institutes approve the 
award of degrees for low level work. 
4. Most graduate students do not defend their dissertations on 
schedule. 
The resolution then provided the following administrative changes to 
eliminate weaknesses. The U.S.S.R. State Committee for Coordination of 
Scientific Research has been given the duty of working out, jointly with the 
U.S.S.R. Gosplan, the U.S.S.R. Gosekonomsovet, the U.S.S.R. Ministry of 
Higher and Specialized Secondary Education, and the U.S.S.R. Academy of 
Sciences, annual and long-range plans for training scientific personnel. 
Trainee positions in research, academy, and higher educational institu - 
tions have been created, to be filled for two-year terms by young specialists 
from the ministries, agencies, and Union-Republic Academies of Sciences. 
Those from ministry and academy institutes will then return to their former 
place of work., The scientific research institutions where the training takes 
place are permitted to retain as permanent employees such specialists who 
